2015 Spring Training Thread

[Parade_Rain]

Cubs Den says Mendy looked good at 3B.

 

[Grizzly]

Well, if Maddon is going to get on anyone. He needs to give a Coughlan a little piece. Its spring training, but he is a vet. He struck out. Ball got away. When he finally ran, he leisurely jogged to first and was out when he easily could have beat it. The ball went all the way to the brick, bounced pass the catcher, and the pitcher picked it up by the third base line and threw him out. Its spring training, but thats not something you want the young kids to see. You are a vet that isnt even a full time starter.

Just saw the replay of this on MLB network and I think your exaggerating just a bit.
What I saw was Coughlan taking a pretty big swing and miss and wasn't really in a position to see the ball get past the catcher. The ball then hit the brick and shot back out towards the pitcher pretty quickly. When Coughlin noticed what happened he did indeed take off for first, not a full out sprint but hardly a leisurely jog. I've seen way worse.

 

[SilenceS]

Just saw the replay of this on MLB network and I think your exaggerating just a bit.
What I saw was Coughlan taking a pretty big swing and miss and wasn't really in a position to see the ball get past the catcher. The ball then hit the brick and shot back out towards the pitcher pretty quickly. When Coughlin noticed what happened he did indeed take off for first, not a full out sprint but hardly a leisurely jog. I've seen way worse.

No, he never sprinted at all and even pulled up more half way down the line. There was no exaggeration. The ball didnt shoots like a rocket and almost all major league players would have beat it.

 

[Grizzly]

No, he never sprinted at all and even pulled up more half way down the line. There was no exaggeration. The ball didnt shoots like a rocket and almost all major league players would have beat it.

1- never said he did sprint. In fact I said he didn't sprint.
2- I said shot back pretty quickly, NOT rocket,, you inserted the word rocket.
3- Quarter of the major leaguers are half way to the dugout with their head down after striking out.

I'll stick with my opinion of I've seen much worse.

 

[SilenceS]

1- never said he did sprint. In fact I said he didn't sprint.
2- I said shot back pretty quickly, NOT rocket,, you inserted the word rocket.
3- Quarter of the major leaguers are half way to the dugout with their head down after striking out.

I'll stick with my opinion of I've seen much worse.

To each their own

 

[beckdawg]

Looks like the Red Sox are sniffing around the cubs for pitching. It's unclear who exactly they are after though presumably you're looking at Wood/Jax. Cubs den speculated it would likely be something like Craig for Jax as a salary swap though Craig doesn't exactly fit for the cubs. It seems as though Wood has upped his value quite a bit from where it was in the offseason. If the Sox were to put Jackie Bradley in a package it would be really interesting. With Mookie Betts and Rusney Castillo they are pretty set in CF. Bradley is 25 with a pretty great make up in the minors (10-12%/18-20% bb/k rates). I believe he was also drafted by Theo. Bradley might seem an odd player with Fowler presently and Almora waiting in the wings but Almora is still only 20 and in AA which is still aways away. Fowler is a FA after the season IIRC.

I wonder if they couldn't piece together some sort of three team deal. Craig obviously doesn't work well for the cubs and the cubs also have Welly who's not a great fit having 3 catchers and the Sox don't really need a catcher. Perhaps something with the phillies. Craig and Castillo would both be useful pieces for them today as they have Howard who they'd love to unload on anyone who would take him at 1B. They also have Maikel Franco who's a top prospect for them. In LF/RF they have Domonic Brown and Grady Sizemore(?) in RF. At C they have Carlos Ruiz who's decent but also 36. Presumably this sort of trade would have to be for Hamels to the Sox. From my understanding, part of the problem the Phillies and Sox have had is the unwillingness to deal Blake Swihart. Castillo(28) solves some of those issues. Would probably need to be a bunch of moving parts from the Sox to make this work but if the cubs could come away with Bradley for Castillo and Jackson I'd be pretty happy with that.

 

[beckdawg]

That crack of the bat made me feel funny in my pants.

 

[2323]

Cubs Den says Mendy looked good at 3B.

Yes but that's too much eye shadow.

 

[Bear Pride]

Yes but that's too much eye shadow.

You seem obsessed with Bryant's eyes. Are you falling in Love? :dunno:

 

[SilenceS]

Castillo can not go anywhere. Yall just saw that hose? He has been doing it all spring

 

[beckdawg]

Castillo can not go anywhere. Yall just saw that hose? He has been doing it all spring

I honestly never got the Montero hype myself. But let's be realistic here, if you have a 28 year old catcher and you go out and trade for/sign not one but two catchers in the offseason the writing seems to be pretty evident on the wall. At this point it's just about getting the most value in return. I personally wanted them to go after a cheaper left hand option similar to 2013.

 

[Parade_Rain]

I still think they will release Ross. He's old, there for 1 player only and on off days isn't worth being a pinch hitter. Keep Castillo.

 

[chibears55]

Adding Montero made sense because he a lefty and could work with Castillo ..
Ross made no sense at all, he actually a down grade from baker..
Only reason i see they signed ross was because of Lester. .

 

[chibears55]

Surprise Edwin Jackson gives up 3 runs and the lead...

 

[2323]

You seem obsessed with Bryant's eyes. Are you falling in Love? :dunno:

My post that you quoted was in response to a post about Mendy. But my comments reflect an amusement with how dotingly people comment on how a player "looks".

 

[Parade_Rain]

My post that you quoted was in response to a post about Mendy. But my comments reflect an amusement with how dotingly people comment on how a player "looks".

AA did a nice job at third when he has been put there. How's that? A little better? It's important, because he's going to be a true Super Sub with Fowler in CF.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Adding Montero made sense because he a lefty and could work with Castillo ..
Ross made no sense at all, he actually a down grade from baker..
Only reason i see they signed ross was because of Lester. .

My understanding was that even though Ross signed after Lester he was part of the deal of why Lester signed. I just can't see them going back on that after one ST.

 

[brett05]

Adding Montero made sense because he a lefty and could work with Castillo ..
Ross made no sense at all, he actually a down grade from baker..
Only reason i see they signed ross was because of Lester. .

Let me see if I can find it but it is something insane over Lester's lifetime of catching with Ross and how good he is and how average he is with other catchers.

 

[brett05]

Found it:

Jon Lester has a 2.77 career ERA when working with David Ross as his catcher.

That's Lester's best ERA with any of the four catchers with whom he has amassed at least 25 games, 100 innings pitched and 400 batters faced: He has a 3.24 ERA with Victor Martinez, 3.41 ERA with Jason Varitek and 4.20 ERA with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

 

[chibears55]

Looking like Baez should be starting season in Iowa...
Kid just doesn't look like he ready for the majors, and wondering iff he will ever be...